Ruth leads the Academic and Industry Collaborations team. Ruth helps the research community navigate all aspects of sponsored research, acquiring or sending research materials and forming research collaborations with both academic and industry partners.

Prior to joining OHSU in 2007, Ruth worked as a research biologist with the U.S. Forest Service collecting data about forest health throughout the Western United States. These travels took her to many beautiful places, including many places infested with poison oak. She now prefers working in the office environment with less poison oak, but does find herself dreaming of high mountain lakes occasionally.    

Ruth graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Oregon focusing on French Literature and Geological Sciences and with a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State with a focus on Environmental Science, Forest Ecology and Restoration. She has always had a passion for biology, human or otherwise and communication.